Using Yoga and Herbs to Stay Well this Winter

The Chamomile Clinic moved to Margate almost 1 year ago, and I’ve been learning lots about the coastal herbs here.

In November in Margate there are a surprising number of herbs still growing wild, strong and some are even ripe for harvesting and full of healing medicinal properties. This week (the first of November) I have found Plantain, Wild rocket, Bladderwrack and Medicinal mushrooms in abundance on Margate’s coastline!

These medicinal herbs and edible treats are all growing right under your feet, along the paths and out of the cliff tops, in rock pools and cracks in the pavements. Most of these local herbs are also found in all over the UK – even you Londoners will see many of these plants growing in their parks and pavements too! The best part is they are easy to identify, free and also easy to prepare into medicinal treats – like teas, salads or dried for us as an ingredient in stock, soup or stew.

I’d like to share what I’ve discovered growing along Margate’s beautiful coastline with you, so I’ve got a plan to do something a bit different than the average herb foraging walk to nurture and restore you. – a yoga and herbs workshop.

I’ve got together with an amazing yoga teacher, Mounira Almenoar, who (after our walk) can guide us through a restorative yoga session to teach us how to stay well this winter.

Once thoroughly restored we can all share a medicinal – yet delicious cuppa tea with treats. If this sounds like a recipe for healing to your mind, body and soul please join us Sunday 22nd November from 2pm-5pm, at Cliftonville Community Centre to restore, relax and reconnect with yourself and mother nature!

More about our amazing 3 hour restorative workshop…

We will meet at the Cliftonville Community Centre, where we can leave our yoga mats and head off to beach for a healing walk around medicinal Margate’s seafront. There we will discover the pharmacy under your feet, where I can teach you how to identify these plants safely for your own future foraging adventures and how to prepare them into medicinal teas, and delicious treats for winter wellbeing.

We return to the warmth of the Cliftonville Community Centre to practice the basic components of gentle-flow-yin-yoga, explore yoga breathing techniques and set a firm foundation for yoga practice in a welcoming and relaxed environment. We’ll focus on a relaxing and restorative yoga practice at this busy time of the year allowing ourselves time and space for deep relaxation and a gently energising & warming yoga practice. Our Yoga itinerary includes: pranyama (yogic breathing), gentle flow yin yoga practice, yoga nidra (deep restorative relaxation). The workshop is suitable for all levels and beginners are welcome.

We will complete our afternoon with a tea tasting and blending session, using our foraged herbs, and some we can easily ‘forage’ from the local shops to make delicious warming healing herbal teas. There will also be a selection of organic home made medicinal gluten free treats*, so we will be taking extra care of your energy, so you leave after the 3 hours feeling truly relaxed, restored and reconnected!

Time: 2-5pm at Cliftonville Community Centre St Paul’s Road CT9 2DB

Date: Sunday 22nd November 2015

Cost: £30 *The cost includes all herbal treats and teas

Booking: The full fee is required to ensure your place, but can be refunded if notice is given within 7 days of booking. You can book through our PayPal link below or alternatively send a cheque or pay cash to one of our hosts Sorrell or Mounira directly.